The Economic Community of West African States Youth Council (ECOWAS-Youth Council) attention has been drawn to the most recent alleged regional trade dispute on currency impropriety amid relative to incendiary policy on business registry and the infliction of price on resident’s card to foreigners in ECOWAS regional areas.
This
long existed hiccups and diplomatic uproar is currently creating a commotion
which is impeding bilateral, social and economy conflict in cross-borders trade
zones between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Ghana, lending the propensity
to further facilitate trade degradation, regional insurrection and undermine
ECOWAS laws on access to regional trade integration among member states.
The
alleged situation that has to do with the Ghanaian government compelling
Nigerian businessmen to have a minimum of US $1 million each to legally do
business in the country and the increased fee in non-resident card to $ 120, in
addendum to huge sum requested to process the permit despite the bilateral
regional trade integration amongst west African states, is a serious concern
that needs to be given quickest attention by the ECOWAS Parliament, African
Union (AU) and commissioned relevant authorities.
Trade
ties are particularly important to the growth of every region and continent
because such bonds serve as a conduit for opportunities in economy development,
build access to regional markets, increases incentives for more investment
flows, and permits suppliers to specialize and integrate into regional supply
chains that ultimately cater to cutting-edge regional economy index.
As
the two largest economies in West Africa, the relationship between Nigeria and
Ghana is very crucial for our regional trade as their revenue collected and tax
to ECOWAS liquidates much achievement thus giving us global recognition on
improved trade and economy growth.
Article
59 (1) of the Revised Treaty constitutionalizes free movement as a fundamental
objective of the Community and as a means of developing a Common Market. It specifically enshrines the right of entry,
residence and establishment in favour of Community citizens and the obligation
on member states to gradually implement these rights in accordance with the
relevant Protocols.
In
this light, the ECOWAS Youth Council wishes to champion peace, regional trade
resolution and encourage both parties to abdicate acts of bite-biting and
retaliation which is not an impetus of solution to the promotion of peace and
security in the sub-Saharan region.
The
Youth Council also encourages member states to exhibit a therapy of
anti-xenophobia measures amongst citizens so as to priorities:
• Better and free flow of trade
integration of member states which promote a sustainable and equal freeway to
markets,
• Union interest of solidifying global
agendas for the improvement and inclusion of inter-nations trade
• Assess to investors and goods
exporters within the region thus accompanying benefit from the Wide Free Trade
Areas on cross-borders trading
• The minimization of the effects on
asymmetric shocks, and flagging regional monetary union which requires member
countries to converge certain quantitative and qualitative benchmarks
The
ECOWAS Youth Council, seen as a border base of West African youth voices wishes
to syndicate legal bodies in proponent to the establishment of investigating
the upheaval and decades long misunderstands between the two states.
The
ECOWAS Youth Council is a cohort of professional youths that seek to solve
regional and national problems in order to maintain regional peace, security
and integration to the unity and progress of West African states. The council
is also a catalyst of change makers that cultivate strategies of engaging
stakeholders to be accountable and responsible for the prioritization of union
interest.
The
preposition that bonds us as ECOWAS citizens is ours ideas of initiating
responsibilities of solving our own problems, prioritizing interest of union,
taking responsibilities for our actions.
Press
release
